MERCER COUNTY Defendants stay mum for now in suit contesting allegations

Preliminary objections will be filed in the case to clarify what is being claimed.
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County Solicitor Donald R. McKay said defendants in a $1 million lawsuit filed against the county and others won't be commenting on the case until the allegations are clear.
Jeff Swartzbeck, former Mercer County finance director, filed the suit last week alleging that he was the victim of false accusations of sexual harassment and other misconduct.
The suit said he was suspended from his position in September 2001 and then forced to resign a month later as a result.
Damages sought
The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in lost wages, compensatory damages and punitive damages and names the county, the board of commissioners, one current county employee and three former county employees as defendants.
McKay, the county solicitor in charge of litigation, said the defendants won't be making any immediate comment on the case.
"Suffice for now to say the ultimate purpose of litigation is the search for truth. Under our law, truth is an absolute defense to what may be alleged to be defamation," he said Monday.
Preliminary objections will be filed to many of the various allegations found in the suit, McKay said, adding that it may take many months before the judicial process refines the allegations to determine what will be contended in a court fight.
The defendants will file their answers in court at that point, he said.
"In due course, the other side of the story will unfold," McKay said.